By Samuel Orazem EBS EDITORIAL ASSISTANT
Lights, Camera, Pawn Shop!
BOZEMAN — In a town where the only thing more abundant than mountains is the overabundance of clichés about them, the local film scene is making a valiant attempt to rise above the picturesque backdrop of Montana landscapes. Enter Steve Drake of Single Six Media, armed with a camera and an inexplicable urge to make a dark comedy called “Hocked,” which seems to be inspired by his family’s riveting experience as pawn-shop owners. Someone call the Oscars—we’ve got ourselves a blockbuster in the making!
Musical Chairs at the Pawn Shop
In “Hocked,” the plot revolves around a struggling musician who stumbles upon a mysterious item—because what could possibly go wrong with that? Naturally, he sells it to two charmingly shady pawn brokers, and before you can say “bargain basement,” they find themselves embroiled in a deal-gone-entirely-wrong. Think of it as “The Hangover” but with fewer tigers and more police officers ready to bust your chops.
Life’s a Pawn—Take a Gamble
Drake, drawing inspiration from his childhood spent in a pawn shop (because what kid wouldn’t want that?), claims he heard plenty of wild stories. Spoiler alert: this isn’t the “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood” it was meant to be. “I wanted to find something interesting to write about,” he admits, sounding suspiciously like every other aspiring writer who thinks their mundane childhood could land them a book deal.
Comic Inspirations and High Hopes
When it comes to comedic influences, Drake cites Kevin Smith, director of such cinematic treasures as “Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back.” His goal? To craft humor so real and relatable that it makes you wonder if these characters are actually being paid to talk in a pawn shop. Rounding off his list is Guy Ritchie—because nothing screams “I’m an indie filmmaker” quite like ripping off “Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels.”
The Budget: Survive on a Shoestring
As for the budget? A jaw-dropping $1,000. Let’s just say this is about as low-budget as it gets—unless, of course, you count the neighbor’s birthday party where they decided to make a musical. Luckily for Drake, he had his own cameras and a family pawn-shop to double as a filming location. There’s nothing quite like saving money on a set and pretending it’s luxurious. It’s Hollywood on a tight budget!
Speed Bumps in the Creative Process
But the production wasn’t without its drama. In December, right when Drake thought he’d found his groove, his step-dad and mom decided to close the pawn shop in April—kicking him into high gear. “I was only six pages into it,” he lamented, proving that sometimes it takes impending financial ruin to motivate creative genius. Nothing like a little existential dread to spur the artistic spirit!
A Local Legend in the Making
“Hocked” is essentially a love letter to the indie film scene in Bozeman, where every aspiring filmmaker can relate to the struggle of trying to be the next big thing while juggling day jobs and eating instant noodles. With a tentative screening date in 2020, mark your calendars, folks—this may be the start of something spectacular or a cautionary tale on the dangers of low-budget filmmaking. Either way, it’s a piece of local cinema history you won’t want to overlook.
For updates on the theatrical screening of this potential cinematic masterpiece, visit www.hockedthemovie.com. Who knows? You might just witness the rise of the next big pawn-shop saga.
